Once Again, New York State Considers a Terrible Right of Publicity Law

In what now appears to be an annual ritual, a terrible right of publicity regulation is being rushed thru on the end of the legislative consultation in New York. Assembly Bill 8155-B (and its counterpart Senate Bill 5857-B) could dramatically enlarge New York’s proper of exposure, making it a property right that may be handed on in your heirs – even if you aren’t a New York resident. EFF has despatched a memorandum [PDF] to members of the New York State Legislature urging them now not to aid the bill.

The right of publicity is an offshoot of country privateness regulation that offers someone the right to restrict the public use of her call, likeness, or identity for industrial purposes. A limited model of this right makes sense—as an instance, permitting you to stop a company falsely claiming which you endorse its products. But the right of exposure has been increased in current years way to inaccurate regulation and court selections. In some states, the proper covers just about any speech that even “inspires” someone’s identity. Celebrities have introduced right of publicity cases against movies, rap lyrics, magazine functions, and computer games. The proper of publicity has even been invoked to silence grievance of celebrities. Since the right of publicity can effect a huge range of speech, any modifications to the regulation ought to be considered cautiously.

We are asking New York legislators to oppose this invoice. It has numerous problems, including:

Reframing the Right of Publicity as a Property Right: The invoice would reframe a well-hooked up privateness right right into a freely transferable property proper. But the proper of exposure most effective make feel as a motive of motion that offers people manipulate over their personal picture. In this feel, it can be seen a shape of false marketing regulation. When the right is dealt with like property that may be assigned, celebrities can lose manage. For example, a celebrity would possibly assign exposure rights to settle a debt after which locate her image pasted over advertisements for products or causes the superstar reveals reprehensible.
Pressuring heirs to commercialize the picture of deceased household: In a big property, an inheritable and transferable proper of exposure may additionally add to the tax burden and accordingly lead heirs without a desire however to pursue advertising deals or a few different commercial project.
Creation of an remarkable global proper: The invoice would turn the State of New York into a litigation destination for celebrities from everywhere in the world.
Unconstitutionally vague provisions: The bill consists of a provision prohibiting use of a virtual replica in a “pornographic work.” But the bill does now not encompass a definition of pornographic work and that time period does now not have a settled felony which means (and appears to be broader than the First Amendment obscenity fashionable). Many works of art encompass R-rated depictions of actual humans, along with public figures who died inside 40 years of the film being produced. These consist of award-winning movies consisting of Henry and June, Before Night Falls, and Milk. The bill’s vague statutory language will probable chill innovative works included with the aid of the First Amendment.
Right of publicity expert Jennifer Rothman has listed some extra problems with the bill. We wish legislators take the time to remember all of these objections and oppose the ultra-modern try to amplify the right of exposure.